Beginners are overwhelmed when they first take up golf as it looks so easy on TV but once they get into it, they find it’s about as tough a sport to learn as there is – even for those who are accomplished in other sports.
What makes this sport one where you have to have a good instructor to really learn and improve and one where the best players in the world are constantly calling their teachers even when things are going well?
The following 3 factors might add some insight to why novice players as well as “driving range pros” (they look great on the range but can’t get the ball in the hole on the course), have a difficult time making the transition from practicing to playing.
1) The playing field – In bowling, tennis, baseball, hockey, etc., no matter where you go the playing field is always the same. In golf it is forever changing. You have to learn the basic skills and then how to apply them to different situations. The surface is inconsistent. You can hit off high grass, no grass, or closely mown grass, and hard, soft, or wet sand in addition to uphill, downhill, or sidehill lies. Plus you have to hit the ball under, over, and around obstacles and sometimes out of those previously stated lies. The conditions are constantly changing – wind, wet, cold, or heat. If you are like most players, you know only one or two shots and try to make them work for all situations and then blame your swing for higher scores. What you really should do is learn shotmaking - how to shape your shots. You next assess your situation (as discussed previously) and then can choose the correct shot.
2) Length of time to play- You are out for 4-5 hours playing so there is a lot of time between shots to think and get down on yourself. Golf is not a “reactive” game – you must make it happen. A ball is not coming at you that you simply react to. This is why your Pre-Shot routine is so important – it helps you react to the target.
3) Number of clubs – Imagine playing with 14 different bats or tennis rackets or bowling balls, etc, etc. Pretty difficult but it is what is called for in golf and you don’t get three strikes either! You must be able to go from a long club swung fairly fast with a wide stance (driver) to a short club with a narrow stance to hit a delicate pitch over a bunker. You then must take an even shorter club with a totally different design and roll the ball the exact distance and direction. Whew!
I always explain to new students they will need 8 months to 1 year to just learn the fundamentals and basic short game skills of putting, chipping, and pitching and there is no guarantee they’ll be masters of even this without a lot of practice. For experienced players they will need that long also to make new changes and skills stick.
So, the next time you’re beating yourself over the head on how poorly you’ve scored, ask yourself how may shots you wasted because you didn’t have the right one or how you played “golf swing” instead of just golf and then immediately seek out an instructor that knows how to teach you shots and can help you with the mental side. Realize it does take patience and time to learn and improve your skills as there are so many of them.
Good golfing.
Kati Biszantz, LPGA Class A/Life Member, 30 years experience, Golf Magazine Top Regional Instructor.
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